Renault has taken the wraps off its new concept car, Altica, a sporty estate
that combines flowing lines with a spacious interior. Its dynamic stance is
underpinned by a long bonnet and curved forms, while its modular interior
ensures outstanding load capacity.

Altica stands out as a dynamic vision of the estate, combining the
practicality of the latter, the sports appeal of a coupé and a high standard of
travelling comfort.

Altica's interior mirrors its sporty, dynamic exterior design. The suspended
drive station is held in place by four profiled rods that hint at the world of
Formula 1.

The transparent roof and panoramic windscreen erase the boundary between the
interior and the outside world and also ensure a brightly-lit cabin. The mosaic
design of the rear quarter windows allow sunlight to filter into the cabin much
like it does through stained glass windows and gives the interior a more
welcoming feel. The layout and angling of the panes ensure good three-quarter
rear visibility for the driver which is indispensable when parking.

The headlamps feature four different modes – daytime running lights (DRL),
sidelights, dipped beam and main beam – and function using rows of diodes.

They also produce a halo effect when the DRL mode is selected. This is
achieved in two ways. First of all, each polycarbonate headlamp module cover is
speckled with thousands of small, micro-engraved nicks. Invisible to the naked
eye, these nicks have no effect on the beams and permit light to pass
unhindered. In the daytime running mode, however, the surface of the module
cover is illuminated from the edge. The light is accordingly trapped inside the
mass and spreads out like a fluid over the entire surface to produce an original
and effective halo effect for the DRL and sidelight functions.

An estate with the accent on style

Altica's sports pedigree is reinforced by its scissor doors, the form of
which ensures easy access to this low vehicle.

The generous interior volumes of Altica provide a very high standard of
travelling comfort despite the car's sporty characteristics. Each of the four
individual seats boasts outstanding comfort.

Instead of the seats, which are fixed, it is the drive station and pedal
assembly that adjust to match the driver's physique thanks to a motorised
mechanism. The height-adjustable centre armrest deploys automatically as the
driver sits down.

The vertical positioning of the dashboard takes its inspiration from the
world of aeronautics and permits the driver to feel at one with the car.

The centrally-positioned dial features two display modes: "comfort" and
"sport". The "comfort" mode indicates the car's speed in the centre of the
display while the perimeter shows the legal speed limits which turn red if
exceeded. In the "sport" mode, the speed continues to be displayed in the middle
of the dial but the perimeter becomes a digital rev counter and turbo pressure
indicator. The graphics of the high-resolution screen provide a distinctly human
touch to this high-tech display which itself suggests watchmaker-like precision
and sophistication.

Altica features a number of clever storage spaces, including the shell-like
glove box, concertina-style storage compartment in the armrests and a tray
situated underneath the floor at the rear.

The rear seat backs can be folded into the flat floor which is equipped with
straps that permit heavy or bulky loads to be held secure. This layout
transforms Altica into a two-seater sports coupé with a vast 1,300-litre boot,
while the boot lid provides very easy access and an extremely low loading
sill.

Driving pleasure, power and control

Altica is a dynamic sporty estate that combines driving pleasure with a
sensation of power and control.

With its long bonnet, sports dimensions (length: 4.27m; width: 1.83m) and
very low centre of gravity, Altica offers remarkable performance.

Altica's new 177hp 2.0 dCi particulate filter-equipped diesel engine takes
the car from a standing start to 100 km/h in just 7.5s. Coupled with a six-speed
gearbox, this powerplant – which boasts maximum torque of 380Nm – provides
excellent pull-away and mid-range acceleration. This hasn't been achieved to the
detriment of fuel consumption, however. The Renault-Nissan Alliance engine is
very inexpensive to run and fuel consumption is equivalent to 140g of
CO2 per kilometre. In terms of both performance and driving pleasure,
it stands out as the best diesel engine in its class and a version of which,
without the particle filter, debuts in France, in the Laguna GT dCi 175 this month.

Altica's low fuel consumption also stems from its exceptional aerodynamics.
Located at the extremity of the roof at the point where the vehicle and the
passing air flow separate, a discreet mechanical system generates jets of air
which are alternately blown and sucked through a 2mm wide slit. Known as
"Synthetic Jet", the system actively controls the separation of the air flow
according to the vehicle's speed. This innovative technique, which reduces drag
and controls the structure of the air flow, is a registered Renault patent and
reduces the car's Cd at 80mph by 15% for an energy consumption of just
10W.

Valeo

Altica's lights employ high-performance light emitting diodes (LEDs).

The dipped and main beam functions are housed in a single module which tops a
linear directional light. The LED control unit permanently adapts the quantity
and orientation of the beam as a function of the conditions.

During motorway driving, the LEDs that ensure long range visibility are
automatically activated and controlled to guarantee optimum visibility at all
times without dazzle. The colour of the light emitted by the LEDs is similar to
that of daylight for enhanced optical comfort and visibility.

The daytime running light (DRL) mode, which is activated most of the time
while the car is moving, also use LEDs. Their high efficiency and the low amount
of energy they require significantly reduce the power that is consumed compared
with a conventional light source. The life expectancy of LEDs is also much
longer than that of all contemporary light sources.

As a world first, the sidelight function is ensured by a veil of light that
covers the entire headlamp thanks to Valeo's exclusive MicroOptique
technology.